Block-signal system.



'PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. L. A. HAWKINS.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

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-s U i EA 1 r \/\/it.r1sses: Inventor" M Laurence A. Hawkms No. 825,818. PATENTED JULY 10, 1906. L. A. HAWKINS. BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION II LED JAN.- 25. 1905.

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lnvgwicor: Laurence J Hawkins.

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\A/ itne s s es. Q M Kat a UNITED STATES LAURENCE A. HAWKINS, OF SCH PATIENT oEFjioE.

ENEcTA'nY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1905.

, Patented July 10, 1906.

Serial No. 242.622.

at Schenectady, county of Schenectady,

train is in the block atwhich the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to automatic blocksignals; and its object is to provide a simple and efficient system for the control of what are known as three-position signals with out the necessity of employing any line-wires connecting the signals of successive blocks.

My invention is particularly applicable to systems employing signals operated by electric motors, though in many of its features it is not limited to signals of this type.

Where it is desired that the signals should indicate the condition both of the block at which they are posted and of the followin block, two arrangements have been propose heretofore. One of these arrangements consists in the employment of two signals atthe entrance of each block, known, respectively, as home and distance signals, the home signal serving to indicate the presence of a train in the block at which it 1s posted and the distance signal the presence of a train in the following block. The second arrangement consists in the employment of a signal arranged to assume three distinctive positions, knowri as dangerfi caution, and clear, which-indicate, respectively, that a I signal is postedgthat a train is in the following block, and that a, train is in neither.

one signal-arm at each block, and thereby reducing the complication and cost of the signal I mechanism. On the other hand, the employtrack-circuit 0 the following b of the following block always operate simul taneously Such an arrangement, however, is; not so slmple when three-position. slgnals This latter arrangement has the advantage of eliminating are employed, since there is then only one signal at the entrance of each block, which performs the functions of both home and distance signals and Vhli must sometimes move simultaneously With the signal of the following or of the preceding block and at other times independently thereof. By my invention it is possible to do away with these line-wires and to operate three-position signals by means of a polarized relay with as simple arrangement and as e'lliciently as though independent home and distance signals were employed. I

In one aspect my invention consists in the combination of a three-position signal and the operatingmechanism therefor, of a switch actuated by the signal mechanism, two relays, one polarized and one non-polarized, controlling jointly with said switch the circuits for the operating mechanism for the signal, and'a reversing-switch controlling the connections from the source of current for the preceding block to the track-circuit of that block and arranged to be operated while the signal is moved from danger to caution position.

More specifically stated, my invention in this aspect consists in the above combination,

the relays having their contacts so arranged that when both relays are deenergized the circuit of the operating mechanism is open.

When the non-polar d relay is energized,

the circuit of the operating mechanism is closed if the signal is in danger or between danger and caution positions, and when the polarized relay is energized the circuit is closed when the signal is at caution or between caution" and clear positions.

In the control of three-position signals it has been customary heretofore to provide a switch controlled by the signal mechanism to break the circuit of the operating mechanism when the signal reaches its desired position and to energize a lock magnet or magnets for holding the signal in osition. Myinvention further consists in t e combination of such a switch operated by the signal mechanism too and a lock-magnet of a polarized and a nonolarized relay controlling the circuit of said ocking magnet in conjunction with said switch, the. contacts of the relays being so am ran ed that when both relays are decner gized theIock-circuit is open regardless of the position of the switch. When the non-polarized relay is energizedand. the polarized relay is,

i closed vwhenthe s'i nal is at caution position,

specification and will be. more specifically a reference to; theiaccompanying' drawings, in

mounted on the main driving-shaft D. The,

. shown in Fig. 1, The positionsof the signalcuit ofthe lock-magnet is-closed when the signal is at clear osition Other features of 'in describe a three-position signal adapted for use in a system arranged in (accordance.

deenergized, the circuit of the lock-magnet is and when both relays are energized thee-irmy invention wil appear from thefollow-ing pointed out in the appended claims.

' My invention will best beunderst'ood b \Vl1lCl1 a Figure 1 shows a frontelevationof-a three-. position signal adapted for use inn systemarranged in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of theactuating mechanism therefor, 1 Figs.v 3, 4', and.5 are detailed views showingthe main signalactuated switch'and the reversing-switch iii-the positionsthey occupy for danger, caution, and clear positions of the'signal mechanism; and Fig. 6' is a diagram showing the circuit connections arranged in' accordance with 'my' system. r f I r I Although I have illustratedland shall here- 'with'my invention, it will be understood that my invention is in no way limited tolthis specific type of-s ignal,-,but may be employed with other forms -of three-position signals well knowninthe art. v 7 i In Figs. 1 and 2, A :re resents an electric motor connected throng als eed-reducing train of gears to the. gear a, w 'c'hi's loosely gear it carries the armature c ofan 'electro ma netic clutch C, which is fast to the drive; sha t D. When clutch C is energized, the motor A drives the .drive 'shaft D through the speed-reducing gears, but-when the clutch C is de'nergized motor A anddri've-shaft'D are free to rotate independently of 'each other. On drive-shaft D is a disk E, which carries a stud f, on which is pivotally mounted one end of the connecting-rod F, the: upper end of which is connected .to the spectacle-casting G, i which carries and acts as a counterweightforthe semaphore-blade H. The casting G is'of sufficient weight so that when the driveshaftf D is free to revolve the casting G will'move the signal-arm H into the danger position, as

arm and casting-for caution andclearpositions are indicated in dotted lines;

The disk E is provided with two notches e and e, assshown in Fig. 1., These notches are adapted to be engaged. by thepivoted lever I when the signal is in caution and" clear positions, respectively. The' lever I is held out of engagement with the disk E bytension-spring J and 'is drawn into, en-

agement with 'the'disk by the ma et When the signal isat caution or c ear position and the lock-magnet K is energized,

thesignal locked ,iposition, [and when magnet K is denergized the signal :is'ire' are adaptedfto-engage' the stationary contacts m to' m."and n tonfirespectively; It ;-will be seen thatw'ith, the switch'memberL in the position 'whichfit occupieswhen the signal is at danger. position, as shown in 3-, contact m'bridges contacts m 'andm n] cautionposition, as shown in Fig. 4, contact. mha 's left-contactm and bridges ,contactsm and m whilecontact n brid es contacts 19/ contact m-has leftcontactm while contact n.

'-bridges'contacts n and n ,Also rigidly securedto the dri've-shaftfD is the arm -O,' to. which 'is ,seodred one. end of the tension;

spring o issecured .tofanarm "P, which is loosely mountedonshaft D and the outer end of whichen ages and operates the reversing-,1 switch'S, t will be seen fromFigs; '3,- 4,"and

5 that as the signal moves from danger to caution position ar rn'P and switchS will not be moved until the movemeiit of'arm O has carried tension-sprin 0- past the center of drive-, 9'5

shaft j .Switchwill then be quickly'shiftee foi s pp i p i ien e g-e The spring connection between the :a'rjms O and P is for theipurpose. ofmaking switch '8 act as a snap sv'vitch; f- No movement of l.

Switch S-is produced by theinovement Qofthje signalirom caution i to. clear}? 1 but the switch-snaps from one position to the other while'the signal-isfrnoifiin from 5 dangerfitoi,

f caution, orfrom caut on to" .d'anger. Referring now to F1 g.'-- 6, the connections R, 1R and R represent the-rails of. three blocks, which will ,be hereinafter called the first, secon ,ifand third.,blocks, re-

spect'ively. The third block is shown-occu- Eied'by a train or car which is supposed to e going in the direction indicated of the second andfirst bloc'ks' are at cain tion and clear,respectively; The several portions ofthe operating. mechanisms forjthesi rials. are lettered the same-for ea' ch' block. represents the .motor, and Cth'e clutch-coih heretofore described, and L the rent for motor Aand clutch-coil O, suchfas-a fbat'te. .K- re resents the lockin -magnet" P g 5 I2 for locking the signal, atl'clearan caution positions, as heretofore e lained. The cir-' cuit of the -motor andc utch is shown in motor-circuit includes not only'the switchL,

. Yc carries two movable contactsm and n, which I s6 and n ln'clearposition, as sllow'n'inFigj,

. 5 spring 0.; The ,otheryend of. the'tensionv e I c and operation of the system willbe explained.

the arrow; The signal H- of the bloc isconsequeiltly at danger position, andthe signals 7 I20 main switch actuated by thesignal mechan l 'i'srn.v B represents a suitable source: of'curbut also contacts controlled by two track-relays T and T The relay T is'a non-polarized relay, while the relay T is olarized. Both relays are connected in ara lel to one end of the track-circuit of the block, while to the other end of the block is connected a suitable source of current, such as a battery I), through-a reversing-switch S, actuated by the signal of the following block. I

The operation is as follows:' When the train leaves thethird block, the non-polarized relay T of the third block will be energized; but the polarized relay T will not be energized, since the signal of the following block will have gone to danger and the reversing-switch controlled by that signal will have assumed the same position as the-reversing-switch S in the third block, which is the position for sending a current from the battery I) throu h the block in such a direction that the polarized relay is not ener ized. The energizing of the non-polarized relay T closes the motor-circuit as follows: from the left-hand end of battery B through the upper armature controlled by relay '1, throtwh contact m, contact m, contact m clutchcoil C, motor A, to the right-hand end of battery B. The motor and clutch are thus both energized and the motor will begin to drive the signal from danger to caution position.

When caution position is reached, contact m will leave contact 'm and contact n will engage contact 'm, as shown in Fig. 4. The motor-circuit is thereby broken, while a circuit is closed through lock-magnet K, as follows: from the left-hand end of battery B through the armature of relay T through the lower armature of relay T, contact n, contact n, contact n lock-magnet K, ri hthand terminal of battery B. The signa of block 3 will thus be locked in caution position. When or before this posision is reached,

the reversing-switch S will have snapped over to its opposite osition in the manner heretofore ex lained The position and connections 0 all parts of the operating mechanism of block 3 will then be the same as is shown for block 2. Meanwhile the shifting of the reversing-switch S of block 3 has roduced the following changes at block 2 he reversal of the connections of battery bto the track-circuit of block' 2 has energized the polarized relay T of block 2, with the following results: The circuit of lock-magnet K is broken by the armature of relay T leaving its back contact and the motor-circuits closed from the left-hand terminal=of battery B through the armature of T contact m contact 'm, contact m clutchcoil C, motor A, to right-hand terminal of bat? teryB. The motor consequently begins to drive the signal H from caution to clear position. When clear position is reached, contact m leaves contact m thereby breaking the motor-circuit, while contact n engages contact a and closes a circuit as follows: from left-hand terminal of battery B through the armature of relay T contact a, contact n, contact n locking-ma net K, to righthand terminal of battery The positions and connections of the several parts are thus the same as is illustrated in the figure for block 1. When the train passes out of the block be 0nd block3, the signal at block 3 will also e driven from caution to clear in the manner that has just been explained. All three signals will then be at clear position and will remain so until another train enters block 1. lays T and T will be deenergized and the circuit of lock-magnet K will be opened by the armature of relay T. The signal will consequently be allowed to go to danger position, driven by the weight of the spectaclecasting.

Although I have shown. two separate relays, one polarized and the other non-polarized, it is evident that a single relay of the type disclosed in my former a plication, Serial No. 217,212, filed by me dul 19, 1904, ma take the place of these two relays.

ther forms of three-position signals may be substituted for that illustrate and de- When this occurs, both rescribed and various other chan es may be made without departing from-t e spirit of my invention.

Zhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a block -signal-systen"1, a counterweighted three osition signal, operating mechanism for riving said signal from danger to caution and clear, a switch operated by said driving mechanism, means connected to the track circuit and responsive both to current-flow and to reversal in said circuit and conjointly with said switch controlling said operating mechanism, and switch-contacts operated, by said signal-operating mechanism and controlling the direction of current-flow in the preceding block. 2. In a block-signal system, a counter- Wei hted three-position signal, operating mec anism for driving said signal from danger to caution and clear, a switch operated by said driving mechanism, means connected to the track-circuit and responsive both to current-flow and to reversal in said circuit and conjointly with said switch controlling said operating mechanism, and switch-contacts operated by said mechanism and arranged to reverse the direction of current-flow in the preceding block while said signal is moving from danger to caution.

3. In a block-signal system, a counterwei hted three-position signal, operating mec anism for driving said signal from danger to caution andclear, a switch operated by said driving mechanism, means connected to the track-circuit and responsive both to current-flow and to reversal in said circuit ana j6inay wa said switch' as? trolling sald operating niechanism, and a snap- 'switch operated byQsaid mechanism'and arrangedito reversethe direction of currente rlow'in: the preceding block while saidsignal is movingfrom danger? to 'caution! ifIn a" block -Ysig-nal system, a counterwel hted three-position signal, operating;

.pi'ecedingblock:

.' 5; In a block -v signal systemfla Weighted- 'three'--position'-' signal operatingj 2o. fdan er to caution and clear aswitch ,7 u

mec anism for "driving said signal-from;

operated by 7 said -driving' mechanism,', two

track-relays, one polarizedia'nd; one non-p larized conj ointly. with said switt h controlling said joperating mechanism, and. a s ap switch operated by said mechanism' and 'ar. ranged to reverse the @direction of" current-1' fiow'in the preceding 'block while said signal: g

' nalandincluded inethetrack-circuit. of the jpreceding-block.

is moving from f danger to cautionv 6. In a blockesi'gnal 7 system, a; three posi tion signal, 1 driving means therefor,- a revers-y j ing switchinclu dedm' the track-circuit ofthe receding block, and operative connections I ,betwe'en said signal'and. said switch whereby,

said switch is shifted from one'pnsition to the other while said signal is bein" "moved-from danger? to v caution and s not] shifted when said signal ismovedfrom cautio1 1" to jcle'ar.

4" V 'tion' slgnal, dr v1ngmeans therefor, and a In a block-signal system, a threepd si switch mechanically connected to said signal for reversing the flow'of current inthe track circuit -'of the preceding blookwhile said signal is moved from danger to. caution. l i

"f 8.]1111' a block-"signalsystem, a counterweight'ed-. thre'e position signal, anelectric fIIlOtOI for driving said signal, two sets of con-j tacts, cmitrolling means for said; contacts connected in the track-circuitu-and I adapted 'to close one set of contacts upon a flow of cur rent through said controlling means regard;

' less ofdirection' and to close the-other set 5 5 upon a flowof current one direction only,

{a switch operated by sa d slgnal and-adapted toconnect either set of contacts in the' i'noton' circuit, and contactscontrolled by saidsignal and adapted to reverse thedirection of, cut-.-

rent flow inthe preceding block.

9. In a block 'sign weighted three position signal','- an electric -motor fordrivingsaid signal, 'two'sets of cone tacts, controlling meansfor said contacts connected the track-circuit and adaptedto' al- 'system,{ a counterthe other relay close foneset of contacts upon a ffiow of cur-- rent through sa d controlhng means regardless ,of' direction "and to close the other set upon a flow of current in one direction only, a

switch. operated by said signal and adapted 7o l'to connectone set of contacts inthe motor-v. circuit when the signal is at danger, to out said set' out of circuit and to cut the other set in when the signal is at caution, and to cut jboth sets'outof circuit when the signal is at :5 .clear, and contactscontrolled by said 'sig- 'nal 'and'adapted .to' reverse the; direction of- "current-flow-in the preceding block. v i

10., I1i dblock-signal system, a'counterww'eight'edithree- 'ositio'njsignal, means for 8c. driving said signa from danger to F cantion,- .andclear, electrically-controlled r means ;for"loc kingsaid signal at .ve'a ution l land Glar, tWoQsets of contacts, controlling means for, said vco'ntacts connected in the track-circuit 'andadapted to close one setof contacts-upon a flow of current 'through'said "controlling means regardlessfof direction and }to closejthe o'therst upon a fiowof current in one direction only, a switch operated by said 0 ingestrra ged tocut eitherof said sets of contacts intocircuit with said locking means,

and;=a,reyersing switch operated bysaid siglIJ-In ai-block signal system, a' counterwei'ghted three-position signal, means for drivingsaid signal from danger to caution "fandlf clear, electrically-controlled means for locking --the'signal at .caution 10o,

and clear, a switch controlled by said signal and comprising contacts-included vin the circuit ofjsaid locking means, two track-relays, one-polarized and one-nompolari'zed;

said, non-polarized relay being arranged r65 when energized. to? closethe circuit of-said locking means through said switch when'said signalis at caution, andthepolarized're i lay beingiarranged when energized to break saidcircuit when said signalis at caution l io and, to close said circuit through said switch when said signal is atclear, and a reversing-switch included in the track-circuit of the precedingblock and arranged tobe shifted, by said signal whilefsaid signal is m ving n5;

from danger tof-caution position;

12. In a block-signal system, a counterweighted three-position signal, means for driving said signal from danger to caution and f-clear,. electrically-controlled 120,

means for locking said signal at caution and clear, 'a switch controlled. by said signal and havin contacts includedin the ci.r-' 'cuit of said 100 'ng means, and two track relays, one polarized and one .non-. olarized, r25 .conjointly withsaid switch contro ling said lockin means, said polarized relay being arrange when energized to-cut the contacts of out of the circuit of said lockingmeans;

'13. In a block-signal system, a counterweighted three-position signal, means for driving said signal from danger. to caution and to clear, electrically-controlled means for locking said signal at caution,

and clear, a switch controlled by said signal and having contacts included in the circuit of said locking means, and two track-relays. one polarized and one nonolarized, con jointly with said switch controlling said locking means, said polarized relay being arranged when energized to cut the contacts of the other relay out of the circuit of said looking means, and said switchbeing arranged to out said contacts out of said circuit when said si nal is in danger position.

14. in a block-signal system, a counterweighted threeposition si nal, an electric motor for driving said signaI, two sets of contacts, controlling means for said contacts connected in the track-circuit and adapted to close one set of contacts upona flow of current through said controlling means regardless of direction and to close the other set upon a flow of current in one direction only, a switch operated by said signal and adapted to connect one set of contacts in the motorcircuit when the signal is at dan er, to out said set out of circuit and to out t e other set in when the signal'is at caution, and to out both sets out of circuit when the si nal is at clear, and means for automatical y reversing the direction of current-flow in the preceding block when said signal is moved from danger to caution.

15. In a block-signal system, a counterweighted three-position signal, an electric l I l motor for driving said signal from danger to caution and clear, a clutch-magnet for clutching said signal to said motor, electrically-controlled locking means for locking said signal at caution and clear, a switch operated by said signal, means connected to t e track-circuit and responsive both to ourrent-flow and to reversal of current in said circuit and conjointlf with said switch contwo track-relays, one polarized and one non-' polarized, conjointly with'said switch controlling said motor, clutchmagnet, and look-- ing means, and means for automatically reversing the current in the preceding block when the non-polarized track-relay is enerized to shift said signal from danger to caution.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of January, 1905.

LAURENCE A. HAWKINS.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN ORFORD. 

